Position indicating device



Jan. 20, 1948... G. B. SLOVIEFF V 2,44870 POSITION INDICATING DEVICE 4 Filed Aug. 3l, 1945 INVENToR. v Geazge. Solal/bfi BY Hrs Arramvy.

Patented Jan. 20, 1948 UNITED STATES y0 FFICE POSITION INDICATING-DEVICE "merge B. selveff, soumettre.' Calif., assigner to Grayson Heat Control.' IJtiII,Y Linwood; Calif., 'a corporation of California 'Application August 31, 1945,'Seral'No;"613,7-8-11 s'claims. (o1. iit3"29 This invention` relates to position indicating devices v for manually resettable mechanisms such as electromagnetic controls.

In controls of the type indicated `it is common practice to provide for energizing the electromagnet from a thermoelectricsource. The energy so generatedis-usuallyinsufiicient to attract the armature vfrom the released position in which it is biased. Consequently,-manual -resetting means are employed -to move the armature into engagement with 'the `electrornagnet where it can be retained if the electromagnet is energized. The eletromagnet and resetting-means are usually enclosed in .a-housing and only an operating button projects -on-the exterior. slight movement of the button is--usually all that is required to 'effect the resetting operation. Hence, itv is'diicult to ydetermine by visualinspection whether the/armature isin attracted or released position unless an indicator is employed.

An object of this invention is'to `determine readily the position `of av-manually reset-table mechanism.

Another object of the invention--isto'A simplify the constructionv and operation of the-indicating device making its vapplication tomanual resettableA mechanisms 'aneconomical matter.

Another object of theinvention is -to"construct the device of few parts which are effectivedor the purpose andnotliable to become out'of-order.

Other 'objects and advantages -will become apparent from the following description rtalrenin connection Vwith the accompanying `Vdrawing, wherein:

Fig. lis'a front elevation,'part-lyinI section, of a manually resettabl'e `rnechanismembodying means for indicatingthe position thereof;

Fig. 2- isl a cross section taken -on vthe line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of themechanism with the indicating means in one position; and

Fig. is'a'secti'onv taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Referring ii`1`ore`'particularly' to 4"the drawing, the manually resettable mechanism isenclosed within a housing III of inverted cup-shaped form having the open end thereof closed by a detachable base I2. Secured vto thebase I2 and projecting intothe interior of the hou-sing IIJ is ahor-seshoe magnet I4 having a winding -I6 thereon. 5A spud connection I8 is providedorione sl'deof the housing Il) for receptionof the leads of the winding I 6. An armature 20 is cooperable with the pole faces of the horseshoe magnet I4 and is supported upon a resetting stem 22 having an oper- 2 ating-end 24 projecting from the base I2. A coil springy 26 is operable between the armature 2|! and the bottom of the horseshoe magnet I4 for biasing the "armature 20 awayfrom vthe pole faces Vof the horseshoe magnet I4.

Y'VI-he means for indicating the position of the manually resettable mechanism comprises a stationary support in theform of a plate 28 which is -secured by welding `or other -suitable means to the inner wall of the housing I0 beyond the armature 28. The-plate 28 is provided with a centralaperture' 30 of greater area than the resetting-stem l22 which is adapted to project therethrough. A lever 32 is fulcrumed at one end on a pin' 313 projecting from the plate 28 and is adapted-to rotate in aplane substantially normal to the axis of the resetting stem v22. The 1ever 32 is of generally V-shape Yconformation with thel notch portion 35 intermediate-the fulcrumed and free ends located lon one side of the resetting ystern 22. The free end of the lever 32 carries an arcuate flag portion 36 of suicient ar-ea toi-bear indicia off and on.

Yieldable means areemployed to rotate the lever 32 in a counter-clockwise direction relative to the-plate 28. The yieldable means'in this embodiment takes the form'of a hairpin springl 38 supported on the plate'28 by a pin 40-and havingv one free end lsecured in an upstanding lug 42 onthe lever 32 and the other free end bearing upona pin 44 projecting from the plate-2B. VItwill be apparent Athat the spring 38is operative substantially in the plane 'of the lever 32 and is adapted to maintain the notch portion 35 intermediate the liulcrumed'and free ends in abutting relation with the resetting means 22. A window 43 is Vformed in the end face ofthe cup-shaped housing I0 and may be closed against the entrance of dirt and the like vby the usual glass 48 or other-transparent material. y

.In:order that the lever 32 Vmay be rotated -in a clockwise -Idirection whenthe armature 20` -is movedfinto attractedposition relative to the pole faces of the magnet I4, means are provided for overcoming the bias of the spring- 38. To this end, the resetting stem 22 carries cam means in the .formof-a Vtapered* enlargement 50 which is positioned beyond the plane lof 'the lever 32 when the armature 28 is disengaged butwhichis operatively engageable with the lever 32 upon axial movement of the resetting sternv 22. Such axial movement of the resetting stem 22'may'be effected by manual pressure applied to a button 52 which adjoins the tapered portion 50 and projects from the casing I0. The shoulder 54 button 52 is then manually depressed to cause an axial movement of the resetting stem 22 and engagement of the armature A2Il with the pole faces of the magnet I4 against the bias of the spring` 26. If the magnet I4 is sumciently energized to retain the armature 26 against the pole faces of the magnet I4 then the button 52 willlremain in its depressed position. During this resetting operation, the tapered portion 50 will be moved into engagement with the notch portion 35 of the lever 32 and cause it to rotate on its vfulcrui'n 34 in a clockwise direction. The indicia off will be moved from its position opposite the window 46 and the indicia fon" substituted therefor by corresponding movement of the flag portion 36. During the time that the magnet remains energized the engagement of the armature with the pole faces thereof will retain the Ylever 32 in the limiting position to which it has been moved by operation of the button 52. It will be understood that the operating end 24 of the resetting stemk 22 is eiective for operating a controlled device such as a valveor switch by the axial movement.

When the actionof the eleotromagnet is discontinued. as by insufficient energization of the winding I6 or complete deenergization thereof, then the armature 2U willbe `released from the pole faces ofY the magnet I4 and the button 52 will be returned by action of the spring 26 to its original position as, limitedI by engagement of shoulder 54 with the cap 56. During this return movement the tapered portion 5D on theresetting stem 22 `will be moved outoilthe piane of the lever 32 permittingthe ag movement to return the indicia oi to a position opposite the window 46.

Itwill beV apparentthat' the spring 2 6 between the armature 20 and thebottom of the horseshoe magnet I4` could be dispensed with iny places where a return' spring isincorporated in the device to be controlled by the electromagnetic conf trol. kThatris, the projecting end 24 of the resetting stem 22 is adapted for engagement with such a device as described and would serve to transmit the biasing action thereoffto the armature 20 in such instances. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is apparent that many modifications in the form and arrangement of parts will occur to those skilled in the art.v Hence, the invention is not to be deemed limited to the form shown and described or otherwise than as included within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. The combination with a housing having a window, a pair of relatively movable members in the housing, of means projecting from the housing and operatively associated with the members for causing 'movement thereof upon an axial movementv of said means, means for indicating the position of the members comprising a lever fulcrumed at one end on the housing and carrying indicia at the opposite free end, yieldable means adapted to rotate said lever to a limiting position wherein one of said indicia is positioned opposite the window, and cam means carried by the first said means and operatively engageable upon said axial movement with a portion of said lever intermediate said fulcrumed and free ends for overcoming said yieldable means and rotating said lever to another limiting position wherein another of said indicia is positioned opposite the window.

2. The combination with a housing having a window, a pair of relatively movable members in the housing, of means projecting from the housing and operatively associated with the members for causing movement thereof upon an axial movement of said means, means for indicating the position of the members comprising a lever fulcrumed at one end on the housing for rotation in a plane substantially normal to the axis of the members and carrying indicia at the opposite free end, yieldable means operative substantially in the plane of said lever and adapted to rotate said lever to a limiting position wherein one of said indicia is'positioned opposite the window, and cam means carried by the iirst said means and operatively engageable upon said axial movement with a portion of said lever intermediate said fulcrumed and free ends for overcoming saidY yieldable means and rotating said lever to another limiting position wherein another of said indicia is positioned opposite the window.

3. The combination with a housing having a window, a pair of relatively movable members in the housing, of means projecting from the housing and operatively associated with the members for causing movement thereof upon an axial movement of said means, means for indicating the position of the members comprising a stationary support secured in thevhousing and having an aperture through which the iirst said means is adapted to project, a lever fulcrumed at one end on said 'support for rotation in a plane substantially'normal to the axis of the iirst said means and carryingv indicia'atthe opposite free end, yieldable meansoperative substantially in the plane of said lever and adapted to rotate said lever in one direction relative to said support, said lever rotation beingV limited by engagement of a portion of said lever intermediateA said fulcrumed and free ends with the iirst'said'means to a 'position wherein one of saidindicia isk positioned opposite the'window, and cam means carried by the iirst said means beyond the plane of said lever and operatively engageable with said intermediate portion upon said'axial movement for overcoming said yieldable means 'and'rotating said lever in an opposite direction to another limiting position wherein another of said indicia is positionedopposite the'window.

GEORGE B. SOLOVIEFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of ,record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

